#Chapter 87 – On My Terms

Olivia's POV The warm, earthy aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wrapped around me like a comforting blanket as I entered Witches’ Brew Cafe. The familiar bell above the door jingled, and a few Pack members seated at scattered tables nodded in greeting. I spotted Mia at a corner table, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea. Her smile, as always, was infectious, and it warmed something in me that had been weighed down by Chloe’s biting words and the looming Council vote. “Hey,” I said as I slid into the seat across from her, shrugging off my coat. “Thanks for meeting me.” “Of course.” Mia’s smile softened, and her hazel eyes searched mine. “I thought you might need a little escape.” I laughed lightly, though it felt more like a sigh. “You’re not wrong.” The barista brought over my usual and I wrapped my hands around the cup, letting the heat seep into my palms. “It’s been... a lot,” I admitted, my gaze dropping to the table. “The taunts, the doubts…some